Advertisement
Home Page 4752

Spice up your lovelife with all the right foods

Spice up your lovelife with all the right foods

With the right food, you can get yourself in the mood in no time. So with Valentine’s Day just around the corner, here are the foods that will spice up your lovelife.

This sizzling passion plan will stimulate the libido and the glorious thing about it is that, while everyone else is sleeping, you’re having a great time between the sheets. This plan will also increase your chances of losing weight in the process.

Vitamin E

Beans

Wholegrain cereals

  • Wholegrain toast with avocado, lemon juice lightly seasoned with salt and pepper

1412kj

  • 2 poached eggs on grain toast with steamed English spinach

1171kj

  • Porridge made with rolled oats and served with a sprinkling of sunflower seeds and pepitas. Served with unhomogenised whole milk and sliced banana

1715kj

  • Natural muesli with natural yoghurt and chopped apple

1140kj

  • Scrambled eggs with roast tomato and sautéed mushrooms

1073kj

  • Stewed apple and cinnamon with wholewheat pancakes and natural yoghurt

1209kj

  • 2 wholewheat biscuits served with warm whole-milk and sliced banana

1115kj

  • Warm beef wholemeal wrap with a layer of horseradish, fresh rocket leaves, avocado and sliced tomato

1837kj

  • Lentil soup

803kj

  • Chicken and veggie soup

827kj

  • Baked beans with steamed English spinach and mushrooms

994kj

  • Vegetarian wholegrain roll with roast capsicum, eggplant, rocket, bocconcini and ricotta cheese

1258kj

  • Tuna salad with brown rice (use rocket leaves, tomato, celery and carrot sticks, avocado, roast capsicum and artichoke hearts) and sunflower oil dressing

1885kj

  • Canned salmon with wilted rocket, chilli, lemon juice on wholemeal pasta

1551kj

  • Edaname (available from Asian grocers or Japanese restaurants)

350kj

  • Blended Cottage cheese and avocado dip with crudités

584kj

  • Banana

408kj

  • Small handful (30g) pistachios with pepitas

943kj

  • Baked apple with crushed pistachios (approx 10) and chopped apricot (3 halves)

635kj

  • Hummus dip (2 tbs) with crudités

501kj

  • 2 wholegrain crackers with nut butter

578kj

  • Handful of raw almonds with a red apple

622kj

  • 20g chilli chocolate

412kj

  • Barley risotto with chicken and mushrooms and steamed broccoli, 1 cup barley cooked in chicken stock with ¼ cup mushrooms and 100g grilled chicken per serve. Serves with ½ cup broccoli

2579kg

  • 150g grilled salmon steak with ½ cup brown rice, ½ cup steamed bok choy served with a dressing made from 1cm piece grated fresh ginger. 1 tbs sodium reduced soy sauce and the juice of ½ lemon.

2217kj

  • Tomato and goats cheese omelette made with 2 eggs, 40ml whole milk, 30g goats cheese, one medium tomato, 1 cup green salad with ¼ avocado

2050kj

  • 200g roast chicken with skin removed, 1 cup dry baked pumpkin, and 20 steamed green beans

1900kj

  • Grilled lamb cutlets with mint sauce served with baked sweet potato, and steamed green beans

1443kj

  • Chilli beef (total serve = 400g — to serve four, use 750g minced beef, ½ cup kidney beans, 2 x 400g canned tomatoes, 1 onion, 1 tbs olive oil, 1 capsicum and ¼ cup tomato paste) served with ½ cup brown rice, 1 cup green salad and one tbs natural yoghurt

2033kj

  • Grilled kangaroo fillet with macadamia and plum sauce served with steamed broccoli

1887kj

  • Special occasion meal:

½ dozen oysters natural. 150g grilled fillet steak with 20 steamed green beans, 1 tbs slivered almonds drizzled over the beans with 1 tsp sunflower oil, 1 tbs horseradish sauce. 2 squares of chilli dark chocolate and 1 glass red wine

2700kj

  1. Include as many aphrodisiac foods as possible throughout the day and at night.

  2. Don’t overload the system — eat at least two hours before going to bed.

  3. Create expectation with a romantic setting. Light a candle, dim the lights, set the table and turn the TV off during the evening meal.

  4. Serve foods that can be shared and feed each other. Even diet foods can be sexy.

  5. Avoid garlic, coffee onion and any other foods that may spoil the breath.

  6. One or two small glasses of wine may help to relax a self-conscious lover. But any more and it can dehydrate the body and impede sexual performance.

  7. Tidy the bedroom before going to bed.

  8. Prepare the meal with your partner and encourage him to taste foods with his fingers. It may not be the most hygienic way to prepare food but the tactile nature of food and taste can be very erotic.

  9. Make sure you exercise during the day to stimulate endorphins.

  10. Cut vegetables lengthways rather than across — some research suggests that foods with a phallic shape have erotic qualities!

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 4752

Do babies need perfume? Burberry thinks so

Do babies need perfume? Burberry thinks so

Would you pay $103 for designer perfume for your baby? Zoe Arnold looks at the latest unnecessary product mums are being told they can’t live without.

There’s a lot of stuff you don’t need when you have a baby. A LOT of stuff, that you think you need, but really truly do not.

Like a baby bottle warmer that plugs into your car’s cigarette lighter. It won’t be used.

Like a quilted liner for your trolley so your baby doesn’t pick up any germs. Newsflash: germs are good!

Like those ‘all-in-one’ nappy disposal systems that retail for a few hundred dollars, when a plastic bag and a bin do the same thing.

But better than all of these are the latest trend for discerning mummies: perfume for babies.

Nope, I’m not joking.

For a cool $103 US, you can buy your bundle of joy a soft eau-de-toilette featuring “rhubarb, orange zest and mandarin blend with gentle verbena and spearmint to form the fresh top notes”. That’s from the House of Burberry, no less.

Or, if you prefer a more Italian-style scent for your bambino, you can fork out for some Dolce and Gabbana perfume for babies with its notes of “bergamot, honey and musk” which the fashion label claims will enhance your baby’s natural smell.

But is there anything better than a baby’s smell, left alone? My secret pleasure is burrowing my nose in my baby’s neck, drinking in that sweet fragrance: a mix of caramel, honey and … baby.

It’s not there forever, a fleeting year or so, before the stickiness of being a toddler takes over.

Babies smell delicious. In spite of their stinky nappies, and occasional ejections of milky mess: a few wipes with a wet washer and they’re like new.

Posh perfumes for our little ones are not necessary, not needed. It’s yet another play on our desires to have the best for our babies.

I battle with my conscience every time I shop for my kids: noticing the newest clothes, foods, toys that marketing tells me I ‘need’ to be an effective parent.

Don’t get me wrong — I love baby goods. I have spent hours researching the best pram for my kids (and me!).

It’s hard to say no to gorgeous, pint-sized clothes when they’re on special … as much as my children’s wardrobes are overflowing with gear already.

But deep down I know that there’s not much my babies need at all. Mostly they need me, or their dad, and our attention.

They need books read to them and to be clothed and fed. They need their daily bath ritual that often sends my stress levels soaring, but leaves them looking sweet and clean.

They certainly don’t need overpriced eau de toilette to improve their non-existent body odour.

It’s materialism gone mad. I’m afraid my babies will have to deal with the occasional sprinkle of baby powder instead.

Your say: What’s the most unnecessary baby item you’ve bought for your child? Will you be buying baby perfume?

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 4752

Why Julia Gillard can’t win when it comes to fashion

Why Julia Gillard can't win when it comes to fashion

Julia Gillard wearing the new glasses that have got everyone talking.

Whether she wears glasses or contacts, local designers or international ones, Julia Gillard can’t win. Former Vogue editor Kirstie Clements discusses Julia Gillard’s election makeover and explains why she owes it to Australia to look elegant and stately at all times.

There has been much press about PM Julia Gillard’s style in the past week or so, as the mainstream media put her under more scrutiny than they ever would a man in her position.

Just as Hillary Clinton’s spectacles attracted a great deal of attention, so too Julia.

I love the new glasses on both of them. They just happen to be two women who look even better wearing frames — it suits their respective gravitas.

Ms Gillard’s look has indeed changed over recent weeks; she appears to have lost weight, and her sleekly-groomed hair is slightly longer and a shade darker (thank you Tim) and the combination is flattering.

Ms Gillard, like all female politicians, favours a tailored jacket and the whip smart black and white Michael Kors choice for her National Press Club address was a winner.

But high profile women, especially our politicians are held to constant, and I think unfair, accountability for their fashion choices.

Too designer or too pricey and they could be considered profligate and out of touch with the average woman.

Something too pretty or too feminine, then they are accused of being flighty, or flirty.

If they take the safe route and opt for boxy and masculine (to blend in with the men) they are then criticised as style-challenged and frumpy.

Ms Gillard’s Kors jacket was neat and slimming and of course she was immediately taken to task for the fact that it was not an Australian designer. She can’t win.

She is probably someone who never spent a great deal of money on, or even cared about fashion, but now she is expected to.

For all we know, she bought the Kors jacket on sale during a quick shopping spree whilst she was overseas.

Jackets by Australian designers are not especially cheap, and she is unable to accept a discount or gifts.

Sarah Palin learnt the hard way when the Republican Party image team spent far too much on the charge card for a new campaign wardrobe for her. The media went to town and Sarah went back to shopping at the outlets.

The PM does support Australian designers (I’ve clocked her wearing both Carla Zampatti and Perri Cutten). And she even shops like we do — full price retail.

I once had a conversation with her about the lack of service in one of our top department stores.

She mentioned to me that if the sales assistant had showed some initiative and brought her more options she would have bought a lot more, because she doesn’t have a lot of spare time to shop.

I believe that, like all of us, the PM should be able to shop where she likes, and mix it up, both high and low price labels, international and Australian.

As our Prime Minister, Ms Gillard represents Australia on a world stage, and there is a necessary expectation that she look elegant and stately.

I don’t want to see her in a cardigan or an Ellery mini skirt. A Michael Kors jacket made her look the part, where a Zara one may not necessarily.

Like Barack Obama coming down the steps from Air Force One in that heavenly navy overcoat, she is holding up her end of the bargain.

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 4752

Princess Mary’s snow holiday

Crown Princess Mary of Denmark and Crown Prince Frederik of Denmark have escaped to Verbier, Switzerland for a family holiday.

Showing that she is more than just your average princess, Mary had fun sledding with her four children, Prince Christian, 7,Princess Isabella, 5, and her one-year-old twins Princess Josephine and Prince Vincent.

The Danish royals looked more than comfortable in their snow bunny gear as they posed for the press and spent time playing in the snow.

See all of the pictures here.

Princess Mary and Prince Frederik pose for the press in Switzerland.

Princess Isabella takes her mum and sister Princess Josephine for a ride.

Princess Mary seemed delighted to be playing alongside her children.

Princess Mary and Prince Frederik cuddle up to their children in the snow.

Princess Mary keeps little Princess Josephine warm.

Princess Mary and Princess Josephine pose for the press.

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 4752

Swiss miss: Princess Mary and kids hit the snow

Royal portraits can be a stuffy affair, but not when four kids, fresh snow and a sled are involved.

Crown Princess Mary and her family posed for a series of candid shots on the slopes at Swiss ski resort Verbier yesterday.

Mary – who is usually a picture of poise and elegance – let down her hair, shrieking with laughter as she zoomed down a hill on a red toboggan with youngest son Vincent.

Frederik was also up for some fun, sledding with the couple’s other children Christian, Isabella and Josephine.

Mary, Frederik, Christian, Isabella, Vincent and Josephine.

Mary and Josephine hit the slopes.

Mary looked beautiful in the chilly weather.

Mary and Josephine.

The family appeared to be having a ball.

Mary spent lots of time cuddling her youngest daughter.

Frederik with Vincent.

Mary laughed as she rode the sled with Josephine.

Christian and Isabella were looking very grown-up.

Frederik and Vincent.

The Crown Princely family.

Frederik and Vincent.

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 4752

Kate ‘in agony’ over new bikini baby bump snaps

Kate 'in agony' over new bikini baby bump snaps

Kate (inset) and Mustique, where she is currently holidaying.

The Duchess of Cambridge is said to be “in agony” over new paparazzi pictures that show her on the beach in a bikini with her baby bump clearly visible.

Kate is currently holidaying on the privately-owned Caribbean island of Mustique with her husband Prince William, sister Pippa and parents Michael and Carole.

Related: Why is naked Harry a hero and topless Kate a fool?

Despite the island’s long-standing ban on photographers, an unscrupulous paparazzo has snapped candid pictures of the Duchess and is now trying to sell them for more than $380,000, the Sunday People reports.

The photo set is said to contain pictures of Kate, 31, walking in the surf with William and a bikini-clad Pippa. Her growing baby bump — which she has gone to pains to keep hidden in public — is reportedly clearly visible in all the shots.

“This is unfortunate,” a royal aide said. “They get absolutely no privacy whatsoever.”

The pictures are expected to spark a bidding war in the US, Australia and Europe, but won’t be published in the UK as all British media have promised to respect the royal family’s privacy.

The new image scandal comes just five months after photos of Kate topless — and bottomless — while on holidays at a remote French chateau caused an international furore.

Several publications bought the images and they were widely published on the internet. Kate and William sued the French magazine that originally published the pictures. The photographer has yet to be identified.

Related: Magazine to publish topless photos of Kate

The Australian Women’s Weekly never publishes pictures of royals in private situations, and as such, we will not publish the latest images of the Duchess of Cambridge, just as we declined to run pictures of Kate topless, Prince Harry naked in Las Vegas and Kate and William on their honeymoon.

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 4752

Hugh misses out on BAFTA

Australia’s own Hugh Jackman has missed out on taking home a statue at this year’s BAFTA awards.

While his co-star Anne Hathaway won best supporting actress for her performance in British musical Les Miserables, Hugh missed out on the best actor gong to Daniel Day-Lewis who won for Lincoln.

The stars braved the rain and snow to walk the red carpet with some, including Jennifer Lawrence sporting coats to keep her warm. Others like Jennifer Garner and Marion Cotillard didn’t let the chilly weather stop them flaunting their spectacular gowns.

See all of the best BAFTA arrivals here.

Hugh and Deborra-Lee Furness looked all loved-up on the red carpet.

Anne Hathaway won best actress for her performance in Les Miserables.

Jennifer Garner braved the cold.

Jennifer Lawrence arrived wearing a coat before revealing her amazing gown.

Sally Field added an umbrealla to her outfit.

Dame Helen Mirren debuted her new pink hair style.

Argo director Ben Affleck walked the red carpet with George Clooney./

Marion Cotillard brightened up the gloomy weather in this stand out dress.

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 4752

Nicole VS Naomi: ‘You’re just jealous’

Nicole VS Naomi: 'You're just jealous'

They’ve been besties for years, but can their friendship survive a career clash?

When best friends work in the same industry, it’s not uncommon for a little career competitiveness to emerge. And that just might be what’s happening with Nicole Kidman and Naomi Watts.

Nicole, who took home a Best Actress Oscar in 2003, wasn’t willing to go the extra mile to boost Naomi’s Oscar chances this year, say US reports. The New York Daily News claims Nic refused to film a 60 Minutes segment to promote Naomi’s critically aclaimed role in tsunami movie The Impossible.

“[Nicole] declined. Clearly she’s not inclined to help her friend because she’s jealous she’s not in this year’s Oscar spotlight,” snipes a showbiz insider. “It was a ‘No’ right off the bat. She could have made time if she wanted to.” The TV story was supposed to air ahead of the Oscar vote, with insiders tipping it would’ve upped Naomi’s chances of taking home the Best Actress statue, but is now unlikely to go ahead without Nicole’s five-minute interview.

However, a source close to Nic, who’s currently in Australia with husband Keith Urban and their two daughters, insists her brush-off wasn’t deliberate: “She couldn’t do it because of her schedule. It was a last-minute thing. Nicole and Naomi are best friends.”

Read more about how Nicole and Naomi became frenemies in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale Monday February 11, 2013.

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 4752

Kim’s worst nightmare: I thought I was losing my baby

Kim's worst nightmare: I thoguht I was losing my baby

The pregnant reality TV star is dealt a frightening wake-up call.

When Kim Kardashian awoke after midnight to sharp pains jabbing her stomach, she knew that, at just over four months’ pregnant, something was very wrong. Panicking, she called her doctor who raced to her bedside.

It was understandable that Kim, 32, who has spoken about her fertility problems before, feared the worst. The doctor was reportedly able to give her and her unborn child a clean bill of health – but TMZ reports he left her with a stern warning to “slow down”.“He believed the problems were stress-related,” the LA-based website reports. Sources add, “The only stress in her life right now is her divorce.”

Now in a relationship with rapper Kanye West, 35, the father of her baby, in 2011 Kim announced her split from NBA star Kris Humphries, 28, after 72 days of marriage. He’s now asking for an annulment on the grounds of fraud. Kim is requesting to set an immediate trial date to finalise the divorce once and for all, but Kris’s lawyer has questioned her “apparently unplanned pregnancy” to gain an advantage to speed up the process.

It seems the dirty divorce battle is indeed taking its toll on Kim. “Just hours before her meeting with her lawyer Laura Wasser, her pains returned in full force,” sources told TMZ last Tuesday. “The doctor told Kim she needs to handle the stress or there could be long-term effects on the baby. We’re told Kim is freaked out.”

Read more about Kim’s baby panic in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale Monday February 11, 2013.

Related stories


Advertisement
Home Page 4752

Prince William tells Carole: Butt out!

Prince William tells Carole: Butt out!

William’s mother-in-law is moving into the palace… much to his annoyance.

Men have faced the dilemma for centuries – how best to deal with a mother-in-law who spends a little too much time in the marital home. Not even the future king is spared. While Prince William has always got on well with his mother-in-law Carole Middleton, he is said to be less than thrilled with the prospect of Kate’s mum setting up home in Kensington Palace in the weeks leading to the royal birth in July.

“Wills has looked forward to scaling back his (air force) chopper pilot work so he has plenty of time at home with Kate before the baby is due,” a friend of the couple reveals. “Now he’s about to have the London-based family life he wanted… but his mother-in-law will be hanging around.”

And if William, 30, thought a quick “babymoon” with pregnant Kate, 31, was the answer, he was mistaken. Last week, London’s Sun newspaper reported that he and Kate had jetted to a luxury villa on Mustique in the Caribbean – but Carole, 58, and Kate’s dad Michael, 63, joined them!

“Kate has loved being with her mum since she found out she was expecting,” the friend says. “When she was getting over her morning sickness, she liked being tucked up in bed at her parents’ house in Berkshire and having her mum take care of her. She found it very reassuring.”

Read more about Prince William and Carole’s spat in this week’s Woman’s Day on sale Monday February 11, 2013.

Related stories


Advertisement